Save the Date for the 2019 Earth Day Event. April 22, 2019.

Earth Day 2019 -Endangered Species

Ocelot

The Ocelot is a beautiful medium-sized spotted cat with body dimensions similar to the bobcat (30-41inches long and 15-30 lbs). Its body coloration is variable; with the upper parts gray or buff with dark brown or black spots, small rings, blotches, and short bars. A key feature is the parallel stripes running down the nape of the neck. The under parts are white spotted with black. The Ocelot’s long tail is ringed or marked with dark bars on the upper surface.The backs of the rounded ears are black with a white central spot.

The Ocelot is Texas native.

Black Bear

The Louisiana Black Bear is one of 16 currently recognized subspecies of American Black Bear. This sub-species is a large, bulky mammal with long black hair and a short, well-haired tail. The facial profile is rather blunt, the eyes small, and the nose pad broad with large nostrils. The muzzle is yellowish-brown with a white patch sometimes present on the lower throat and chest. There are five toes with short, curved claws on the front and hind feet. Adult males may weigh 300 to 400 pounds or more, and adult females 120 to over 180pounds. Body length of adults ranges from 4 to 7 feet. Louisiana black bear skulls, when contrasted with other black bear skulls, are relatively long, narrow, and flat, and have proportionately large molar teeth.

Sea Turtle

The Kemp’s Ridley is the smallest member of the sea turtle family Cheloniidae. Adults have a carapace(upper shell) length of up to 28inches and can weigh 75 to 100pounds. Juvenile Kemp’s Ridleys have broad, heart-shaped, keeled carapaces that are serrated along the trailing edge. In adults, the carapace is round and can be wider than it is long. Hatchlings and juveniles have a dark-charcoal colored carapace, but as they age this color changes to olive-green or gray. The lower shell (plastron)is charcoal-colored in hatchlings and later changes to a light cream color. Adult males often have a concave plastron and long tails that extend beyond the rear of the carapace.Kemp’s Ridleys have large, somewhat triangular heads and powerful, massive jaws.

The Kemp’s Ridley is native to Texas

Black Footed Ferret

Black-footed Ferrets are buckskin-tan in color with distinctive body markings, including a black face-mask, dark “saddle” on the back, black feet and legs, and a black-tipped tail. The breast and stomach are light tan to cream in color. Adult ferrets range in total length from 18 to 24 inches.Their tail is approximately one-quarter the length of the body. The ferret is a member of the weasel family.

The Black Footed Ferret is native to Texas.

Mexican Spotted Owl

The Mexican Spotted Owl is a medium-sized owl, reaching nearly 17 inches when perched. It has dark eyes and white spotting on the head, back, and under parts. It is somewhat similar to the Barred Owl, but with spots on the breast rather than barring and streaking.The Mexican Spotted Owl is one of three spotted owl subspecies occurring in North America. It is distinguished from the California andNorthern Spotted Owls primarily by geographic distribution and plumage differences. Although the background coloration of the Mexican Spotted Owl is darker brown than the other subspecies, its spots are larger, more numerous, and whiter, giving it a lighter color overall.